Mehdi Tavalla

Purpose Toxoplasmosis is a widespread parasitic infection; it affects about 30% of the global population, either through acute toxoplasmosis or its sequels. Our aim was to determine how curcumin affected testicular infection in mice with chronic toxoplasmosis using toxoplasma gondii strain ME49. Methods Forty male BALB/c mice (6–8 weeks old) weighing between 20 and 25 g were randomly divided into four groups. The control group, uninfected animals, received 1 cc of normal saline (vehicle) for 2 weeks. Toxo infection in the Toxo and Toxo + CUR groups continued for 4 weeks. After infection, animals in the Toxo and Toxo + CUR groups were treated orally for 2 weeks with 1 cc of normal saline (vehicle) or curcumin (CUR) (200 mg/kg) respectively [1]. Levels of oxidative stress markers, antioxidant enzyme activities and gene expression, sperm parameters, and histopathological changes were measured and evaluated [1]. Levels of oxidative stress indicators, antioxidant enzyme activity and gene expression, sperm parameters and histopathological changes were measured and evaluated. Results Toxoplasma gondii infection decreased the activity and gene expression of testosterone and serum antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and CAT), while elevating FSH and LH levels. Histological alterations, including maturational anomalies, intratubular necrosis, and inflammatory infiltration, were noted in mice infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Curcumin decreased FSH and LH levels while enhancing sperm parameters, histological alterations, and the activity and gene expression of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPx, and CAT), as well as testosterone levels. Conclusion Curcumin treatment mitigated testicular infection induced by Toxoplasma gondii by enhancing antioxidant enzymes, improving sperm parameters, and decreasing pathological alterations in testicular tissue.

Background: Fresh vegetables are vital for a healthy diet but can transmit foodborne pathogens. Current decontamination practices vary in effectiveness, and standardized protocols to eliminate both bacterial and parasitic contaminants are lacking, posing a significant public health concern. Objectives: This study evaluated and compared the efficacy of different washing methods to identify optimal decontamination protocols for food safety. Specifically, it aimed to assess the effectiveness of common household and commercial agents against both bacterial (Escherichia coli) and parasitic contaminants on various vegetable types. Methods: Seven commonly consumed vegetables (lettuce, purslane, basil, mint, leek, radish, cress) were treated using five washing methods: tap water alone, 0.09% NaCl solution, vinegar solution, detergent solution, and a commercial benzalkonium chloride-based disinfectant. Bacterial analysis targeted E. coli using standard microbiological and biochemical techniques. Parasitological examination employed sediment concentration methods to detect protozoan cysts and helminth eggs. Results: Vinegar and commercial disinfectant reduced cultivable E. coli to below the detectable limit of the assay, whereas water, saline, and detergent showed variable and incomplete effectiveness. In contrast, parasitic contamination, particularly Giardia lamblia cysts (11.1 - 33.3% prevalence), persisted across all treatments. Leafy vegetables (e.g., lettuce, basil) were significantly more susceptible to both bacterial and parasitic contamination than root vegetables (e.g., radish). A strong positive correlation was observed between bacterial and parasitic contamination levels, suggesting shared pre-harvest or handling-related contamination pathways. Conclusions: Current common washing methods effectively address bacterial contaminants but are critically inadequate against persistent parasitic contamination, underscoring an urgent need for more robust, parasite-targeting protocols. These findings strongly support the adoption of multi-barrier decontamination approaches and emphasize the essential inclusion of both bacterial and parasitic indicators in food safety monitoring and risk assessment, especially in regions with high raw vegetable consumption.

Introduction: Trichinellosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by nematodes of the genus Trichinella, maintained primarily through a sylvatic cycle involving wildlife reservoirs. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) play a key epidemiological role in sustaining transmission and represent a potential source of human infection through the consumption of undercooked meat. This study aimed to detect and molecularly characterize Trichinella species in wild boars from Khuzestan Province, southwestern Iran, during 2022–2023.Materials & Methods: Muscle samples from five anatomical sites (tongue, larynx, diaphragm, heart, and mediastinum) and blood samples were collected from 36 wild boars. Parasitological examination was performed using artificial enzymatic digestion, while molecular detection targeted the mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (mt-rrnS) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Serological analysis was conducted using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to detect anti-Trichinella IgG antibodies.Results: No larvae were detected by enzymatic digestion (0%). However, PCR analysis identified Trichinella britovi DNA in 9 of 36 animals (25%), with positive samples mainly from tongue muscle, followed by diaphragm and heart tissues. Eleven tissue samples were PCR-positive, and two animals showed multi-tissue involvement. ELISA revealed a high seropositivity rate (86.1%), indicating widespread exposure within the wild boar population. Sequence analysis of PCR products confirmed 100% homology with T. britovi reference sequences in GenBank.Conclusion: The discrepancy between digestion and molecular findings suggests lowintensity or unevenly distributed infections, highlighting the higher sensitivity of molecular methods for detecting minimal parasite burdens. The predominance of T. britovi supports the existence of an active sylvatic transmission cycle in Khuzestan. These findings emphasize the zoonotic risk associated with wild boar meat consumption and underscore the need for continued surveillance and public health awareness programs targeting hunters and high-risk populations.

Toxocara species are zoonotic parasites increasingly linked to neurological and psychiatric conditions. This systematic review and meta‐analysis synthesised evidence from observational studies assessing the association between Toxocara infection and neuropsychiatric disorders. Thirty‐four eligible studies (32 case–control, 2 cross‐sectional) were identified through comprehensive database searches up to May 2025. The pooled seroprevalence was 25.1% (95% CI: 21.3%–29.3%) amongst patients with neurological disorders and 9.6% (95% CI: 5.6%–15.8%) amongst those with psychiatric conditions. Toxocara seropositivity was significantly associated with several neurological disorders, including attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (RR = 4.50), epilepsy (1.62), Alzheimer's disease (1.82), essential tremor (2.42) and mental retardation (2.37). For psychiatric disorders, the overall association did not reach statistical significance (RR = 2.22; p = 0.052), though schizophrenia showed a stronger link (3.83). Whilst causality cannot be inferred, mechanisms such as neuroinflammation and neurotransmitter disruption may contribute. These findings underscore the need for further longitudinal and mechanistic research to clarify the potential role of Toxocara exposure in neuropsychiatric disease.

Background and Aims: Demodicosis is a significant dermatological condition caused by Demodex mites, with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Despite its prevalence, population‐based studies on the epidemiology, co‐infections, and atypical presentations of demodicosis remain limited globally. This study aimed to investigate the demographic patterns, clinical characteristics, and associated co‐infections of demodicosis over a 22‐year period in southwest Iran. Methods: A total of 382 patients with confirmed demodicosis were retrospectively analyzed. Data were collected from records of Iran Zamin Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (2002–2024). Demographic characteristics, clinical presentations, co‐infections, and atypical manifestations were documented. Skin scrapings were examined microscopically to confirm Demodex infestation, and statistical analyses were conducted to identify significant patterns. Results: The mean patient age was 36.6 ± 12.8 years, with a marked female predominance (77.7%). The age distribution showed that the 21–35 age group accounted for the largest proportion of cases (45.3%), while pediatric (≤ 20 years) and geriatric (> 65 years) groups showed no significant gender disparity. Co‐infections were identified in 6.8% of cases, predominantly involving dermatophyte infections, such as Tinea facei (46.1% of co‐infections). This study also highlights novel co‐infections and atypical presentations, including involvement of the trunk, sinus, ear, and thigh. Conclusion: This is the first large‐scale study of demodicosis in the general population of Iran, covering a 22‐year period. It is also among the first worldwide to explore co‐infections systematically. The findings emphasize significant demographic and clinical patterns, particularly age‐ and gender‐specific susceptibility and the complex interplay of co‐infections. These insights expand the understanding of demodicosis and highlight the importance of considering its atypical manifestations and associated infections in clinical practice.

Effective management of human immunodeficiency virus patients with multiple opportunistic infections requires a multidisciplinary approach, timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy, and careful adjustment for drug–drug interactions. Coordinated care and vigilant monitoring significantly improve survival and highlight the importance of individualized treatment strategies in complex co‐infection scenarios.

Introduction: Toxoplasma gondii is a parasitic protozoan capable of infecting warm‐blooded animals, including humans, and is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) serve as reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens like T. gondii, which can cause disease in humans if transmitted. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence and molecular prevalence of T. gondii in wild boars in Khuzestan Province, Iran.Methods: Seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies was assessed using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), employing a commercial kit (Calbiotech), whereas molecular detection was carried out through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the B1 gene of T. gondii on tissue samples (tongue, muscle, diaphragm and heart). Thirty wild boars were sampled from the regions of Shush, Shushtar, Dezful and Abadan, and both blood and tissue samples were analysed.Results: In this study, the seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies was found to be 83.3% (25/30) among wild boar serum samples using ELISA. Molecular detection through PCR identified T. gondii DNA in 46.7% (14/30) of tissue samples, with the highest detection rates in tongue tissues (64%), followed by muscle (21%) and diaphragm (14%). No positive results were found in heart samples, and no animal had multiple tissues testing positive. All PCR‐positive cases corresponded with positive ELISA results, and a statistically significant difference was observed in parasite prevalence across different tissues (p = 0.002).Conclusion: Although consumption of wild boar meat is banned in Iran, illegal hunting and consumption remain a concern. The high prevalence of T. gondii in wild boars poses a potential risk for transmission through the illegal consumption of undercooked or raw meat. This study highlights the need for public health interventions to control the illegal trade of wild boar meat and reduce the risk of toxoplasmosis transmission. Further research is recommended to investigate T. gondii distribution in other tissues, including the brain, and to better understand the parasite's epidemiology in this region.

Introduction: The human being is considered a natural host for Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis), which causes trichomoniasis, the most frequent non-viral sexually transmitted infectious disease in the world. The current study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and sequencing of T. vaginalis in women with vaginitis. Methods: In the current research, 514 vaginal discharge samples were obtained from women with vaginitis. The specimens were evaluated by the direct wet mount examination, Dorset culture medium, and PCR technique. Primers were designed for the detection of TVK3/TVK7, TVA5/TVA6 genes specific for the identification of T. vaginalis. The PCR-positive samples were sequenced and compared with the sequences registered in the GenBank database. Results: Among the collected samples, 30 (5.83%), 45 (8.75%), 90 (17.50%), and 62 (12.06%) cases were positive for T. vaginalis when assayed by the direct wet mount examination, Dorset culture medium, and PCR technique (TVK3/TVK7, TVA5/TVA6 genes), respectively. There was no significant relationship between trichomoniasis and demographic characteristics of women, such as age, occupational status, mode of delivery, number of deliveries, educational level, and contraceptive methods (p˃0.05). The range of vaginal pH was between 5-7 in women with vaginitis, and there was a significant statistical correlation between the pH values and the infection rate (p<0.05). The PCR-positive samples had 100% sequence homology with the reference sequence in the GenBank database (accession number L23861.1). Conclusion: This study confirmed a relatively high prevalence of T. vaginalis in the southwestern region of Iran. According to our results, the PCR method, especially detecting TVK3/TVK7 genes, was more sensitive than the direct wet mount examination and Dorset culture medium methods.